need info for making selfbow w/hatchet

[eaglefeather]

seen it done,just a small amount.anybooks out there,with any pointers in it?

[Pat B]

I think the thing about a hatchet bow is just trying it. The more comfortable you get with the tool and using it the better you will get. You use the same bow building principles as with any other method but you are limiting yourself to one tool.

[reddogge]

I've known some decoy carvers that can rough out a head and body with a hachet but move to finer tools to finish them up like drawknife, knife, rasp, and sandpaper.

[Falk]

You might want to search for the following book:
HODGKIN, A.E. (1951): the Archer's Craft. – 222 p., 32 figs.; New York (Barnes).

A.E. = Adrian Elliot
A true classic and a very good book - and he was a hatchet guy - at least for roughing out the stave    There was one offered in the classifies recently. Dont know if its still available though.

[bowmaker07]

Chop away everything that doesn't look like a bow!  

[wingnut]

Well the first thing is to have the right hatchet and make sure it is sharp and stays sharp.

I've built quite a few over the years.  Heck my wife even built a couple.

We have a contest every year at MoJam that is a bow built with nothing but a hatchet, B50 and beeswax.

Lots of fun.

Mike

[Roy Steele]

Along time ago I made one at a surviourclass.I made mine from hickoryin an afternoon.The only advice is have a really sharp hatch to scrape.Also did a three day surviour class and made one with just flint.If it had'nt been for fishing line and snares[that we wer'nt surpose to have me and my parter would have starved.The last day I did get two squrril shots.MISSES

[eaglefeather]

Thanks to all who answered!!!

[The Gopher]

For the mojam contest you can use a file to keep the hatchet sharp can't you? i thought that this was set for safety concerns of people hacking away with dull tools, but in absolutly no way can the file be used on the bow. Am i right?